Coral

90percent

WCS helps protect 90% of the world's coral species.

900+sites

Across the Caribbean, Western Indian Ocean, and Indo-Pacific, our scientists conduct scientific monitoring at over 900 coral sites.

Coral reefs are some the oldest and most diverse ecosystems on earth, hosting an incredible array of fish, invertebrates, and marine mammals as well as some of the most important primary producers on the planet. They also have substantial economic and cultural value.

Yet today, they're in danger due to climate change, destructive fishing practices, and ocean acidification, among other things. All told, over 20 percent of the world's coral reefs have disappeared in the past 30 years.

WCS is employing a number of tactics to help, including:

Driving a global collaboration to strengthen coral reef fisheries management and evaluate the impact of conservation investments around the world.

Conducting research on a global scale to understand the variety of predicted social and ecological impacts of climate change on coral reefs, including the ability of people to adapt to these impacts.

Working in partnership with local communities and a range of other partners to increase sustainable coral reef fisheries by implementing marine protected areas and alternative fisheries managements.

The International Year of the Reef

The International Coral Reef Initiative declared 2018 as the International Year of the Reef (IYOR). The goal of IYOR is to strengthen awareness globally about the importance of coral reefs to our planet and our society, and the imminent threats facing coral reefs. IYOR also seeks to promote partnerships among governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society to better protect and conserve coral reefs for the future. WCS is registered as a participant. As discussed here, our global marine conservation efforts over 25 countries cover nearly 90 percent of the coral diversity in the world.

In Action

Along the coast of Kenya, WCS has helped 13 local communities manage their fisheries by reviving traditional fishing closures called “tengefu" within fishing grounds over which local communities have legitimate, hereditary claims. Under the rules of the tengefu, approximately 10% of the community's coastal waters are off-limits for fishing. This practice allows fish populations to recover. WCS has helped the communities monitor their fish populations, and their income from fishing. Results clearly show that implementation of tengefu fishing closures increase fish populations, improves the results of fishing, and boosts fishers' incomes.

Related News

October 29, 2018

WCS President and CEO Dr. Cristián Samper issued the following statement on the announcement of $185 million in new support from Michael Bloomberg and Ray Dalio’s OceanX to increase ocean exploration and protection at the Our Ocean Conference in...

October 27, 2018

WCS will have marine conservation experts on the ground at OOC18, taking place in Bali, Indonesia on October 29th and 30th, to join with other conservation organizations, government delegates, and businesses in pledging new commitments for ocean...

August 28, 2018

Researchers from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UH Mānoa), WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society), and other groups are discovering how forest conservation in Fiji can minimize the impact of human activities on coral reefs and their fish...

Year End Challenge: $500,000 for Wildlife

Last chance to make a difference in 2018: Your help is crucial to securing the resources to keep wildlife safe and protect the places they call home. Donate by December 31 to help save elephants and other threatened wildlife.